Guillaume Boivin (Cannondale Pro Cycling) won the fifth weekly stage race of the Mardis cyclistes de Lachine presented by Jean Coutu, stopping the clock at 1:02:05 in the 50 kilometre bike race. It was Boivin who, in 2009, became the record holder in the 36-year history of the Mardis series with a blistering time of 58:52. Boivin signed with the Italian-based Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (formerly Liquigas-Cannondale) last November and is one of the top Canadian riders in the world. The surprise was not that Boivin won, but rather that he showed up back on home turf.

“I think that my record will be broken [but only] under ideal conditions," suggested Boivin when asked about the $15,000 in prize money for anyone who breaks his 2009 record. “It was chilly this evening with a bit of rain and wind; that made things more difficult.” He made no mention of the smog warning issued by Environment Canada; thick smoke from forest fires in northern Quebec is covering Montreal.

Boivin received his winning bouquet of flowers from his wife, Catherine Drainville. The two married last Saturday. When asked about their honeymoon, Boivin joked that it would be at a training camp for professional cyclists. “I knew nothing about cycling before going out with Guillaume,” laughed Drainville.

Simon Lambert-Lemay (Garneau-Québécor) took second place in this evening’s race, followed by Laurent Dallaire (Fantino/Mondello Cycles Régis). The race saw a breakaway group of five staying well in front of the pack for the final laps.

In terms of cumulative points, Pierrick Naud (Garneau-Québécor) remains in first place with 453 points halfway through the 10-stage series. Lambert-Lemay sits in second place with 395 points while Félix Côté-Bouvette (Ekoi-Devinci) is in third.

Meanwhile, defending champion Jean-François Laroche (Fantino Mondello/Cycles Régis) finished the evening’s race in eighth place and has now slipped to fourth place in cumulative points.

François Parisien, a Quebecer now riding for French-based Team Argos-Shimano WorldTour squad was also very visible in the pack. Two women were among the 110 cyclists in the men’s pro-elite race; Veronique Labonté (CSM Epinay-sur-Seine) and Catherine Dusserault (Steven’s Racing), but neither completed the race.

Other Results

In the Women’s race, Élisabeth Albert (Rocky Mountain Lessard Bicycle) won her second consecutive stage race, but Rosalie Cardin-Houde (IAMGOLD-Specialized), who finished second, remains in the lead in cumulative points. Among the cadet men, Thierry Kirouac Marcassa (VCL-André Cycle) won the stage race while visiting Ontario rider, Miles Eastwood (CHCH) finished second and Antoine Côté (VCL-André Cycle) took third.

In the Minime Girls category, it was Naomi DeSousa (Team CHCH) in first, followed by Laurie Jussaume (Dynamiks de Contrecoeur) in second and Charlotte Tousignant (Espoirs Laval Primeau Vélo) in third.

Among the Minime Boys, it was again Griffin Schwartz (Independent) who won the race, ahead of Gabriel Drapeau-Zgoralski (VCL-André Cycle) in second. Meanwhile, Thierry Kirouac Marcassa (VCL-André Cycle) won among the male Cadets and remains ahead in cumulative points. Miles Eastwood (CHCH) finished second while Antoine Côté (VCL-André Cycle) came in third.

The next race is Tuesday, July 9th, around LaSalle Park in the Montreal borough of Lachine. The first race starts at 5:30 p.m. and the men’s pro-elite race is at 7 p.m.